Page 37 of 1000 of You
“I’m alsojust as puzzled,”Muam’stravelling companion stated.“The entire time you were planning this dig, you never spoke of Dr.Beccali. You didn’t even know who she was, or that theconsulate had requested her to come here, until we were getting ready to boardthe plane.”
He squeezedher hand. “We have no qualms about telling you our story because we know thismoment will not last much longer.”
“What doyou mean?” the other man queried.
“Now thatwe have found each other, our deaths are imminent,”Govasoftly replied.
The threemen gasped in alarm.Muam’scompanion jumped to hisfeet. “How? Are we in danger?”
Muamshook his head. “We cannot tell you.”
“Can’t? Orwon’t?” the young man hotly accused.
Govacontinued. “We cannot because we do not know how we willdie, or when.”
“Then howcan you be so sure you’regonnadie?” the first mandemanded.
“Because wehave been living and dying for hundreds of years,”Muamtried to explain. “We were cursed for a thousand lives.”
“A thousandyears?”
“A thousandlives,”Govacorrected.
“And whatnumber is this life?” Man Number Two asked.
Muamshook his head. “We do not know. We lost count a longtime ago. All we know is that, when we awaken in another body, it is not longafter that we find one another. Most of the time we barely have time to share akiss, and to embrace each other, before we are killed.”
“Killedhow?”
“We havemet our deaths in many ways. Sometimes by our own hands.”
Muam’scompanion gasped. “You’ve killed each other?”
“When wewere forced to,”Muamhastily explained. “In thoseevents where we were going to be parted, we ended our own lives.”
“Why?”
“Because ifwe do not die together, the curse may be broken, and we may never reach thatone thousandth life.”
“What’ssupposed to happen if you do reach number one thousand?” Man Number Oneinquired.
Govagave a little shrug. “We do not know for sure. We canonly guess. But we are hoping we can finally have a life together.” She frownedslightly. “Forgive me for asking, but I awoke to who I am just moments ago. Whoare you, and what are we doing here?”
Man NumberOne glanced at Number Two, then sat up straighter in his chair. “Okay. I’llplay along. My name is DanielBregstrom. You and I…Correction. Dr.Beccaliand I work together at theinstitute.”
“My name’sHamid Ossa,” Number Two informed them. “I’m with the Turkish government, in theDepartment of Cultural Appropriations. I’ve been assigned here to assist you.As well as look out for our country’s assets and heritage.”
Muam’scompanion looked at them. “I’m guessing you need toknow who I am,too?”
Muamanswered with a nod.
“I’m XavierDoluca. I’m working on my PhD in archeology. I’vebeen working with you for almost eighteen months now, Dr. Tripp. Or…what do youwant me to call you?”
“It does notmatter,”Muamtold him, addressing the other two menat the same time.
Bregstromsnorted. “I can’t believe you actually thinkwe’re going to swallow this fairy tale of a thousand reincarnations. I mean,what is the purpose of such a stunt?”
Dolucaeyed the two men. “I don’t know about you guys, butI’m sitting here, listening to Dr. Tripp’s explanation, but in all honesty, mygut says thatain’thim talking. The Dr. Tripp I knowdoesn’t talk like that. In all the time I’ve known and worked with him, I’venever heard him lecture about anything that wasn’t concrete solid in facts.Hell, he even speaks in a way that sounds foreign to me.”
